Refrigerating apparatus



H; H. WELLS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April 24. 1924 2 Sheets-Shet 1almanac 13 5 (\4 Dec. szwzl. l 1,518,885

H. H. WEL LS A V REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 924 2Sheets-Sheet 2 anuak ttoz Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

HARRISON H. WELLS, OF DELANCO', NEW JERSEY.

REFBIGERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 24, 1924. Serial No. 703,776.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that. I, HARRISON H. VVELLS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Delanco, in the county of Burlington and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRefrigerating Apparatus; and I hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel improvement in ice boxes, refrigerators, andthe like, wherein it is desired to maintain low temperature by theemployment of ice.

The primary object of the present invention is to maintain the desiredlow temperature in the box or refrigerating chamber with lessexpenditure of ice, by maintaining in the box an amount of the coldestwater or brine at all times, and at the same time prevent overflowing ofthe box; and provide means whereby excess water can be drawn off asdesired without disturbing the amount of cold water or brine.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel devices which can bereadily attached to a box or refrigerator, whereby, a predetermineddepth of cold water or brine may always be maintained in the box, andoverflowing ofthe box or refrigerating chamber prevented; and wherebythe warmer water above the cold water may be drawn off, as desired,without disturbing the reservoir of cold water or brine.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawingswhich conventionally illustrate one form of ice box equipped with myinvention, and an under T standing thereof will enable others to adoptand use the same; and summarize in the claims the novel features oftheinvention and novel combinations of parts for which protection isdesired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a conventional formof ice box, such as is commonly used in packing or storing ice cream orthe like, equipped with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrow.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the attachment,the drain Valve being shown open.

' "Figure 5 is a transverse section looking downward on the line 55,Fig. 4.

The refrigerator or ice box B may be of any desired construction, hawinga watertight chamber in the refrigerating compartment. In theconstruction shown, the box has a water-tight chamberA in which arelocated food receptacles or cans C; but it should be understood that theparticular construction of' the box, the refrigerating chamber and thefood containers are not essential features of the present invention.

\Vithin the refrigerating chamber A and preferably adjacent one end ofthe box B is an attachment including a drain valve, a water seal trap,and an overflow pipe. The drain valve shown comprises a casting 2 havinga central valve chamber 2 an internally threaded hollow branch 2* abovethe chamber 2?, an externally threaded hollow branch 2 below thechamber2 and an internally threaded hollow branch 2 at another side of thechamber, and preferably located at right angles to the branch 2 Thebranch 2 is preferably externally threaded for theengagement of thelower end of a cylindrical hollow valve stem guide 3, the lower end ofwhich is internally threaded as at- 3 to engage the external threads ofthe branch 2 A packing ring 3' is preferably placedbetween the guide 3and the branch 2 to form a tight joint. The upper end of the'guide 3 isprovided with a stuffingbox 3 in which is a packing 8 confined thereinby a nut 33 screwed ontothe upper end of the guide.

Thevalve stem 4* extends through the guide 3, box 3 and nut 3 as shown.

Within the casing 2 is a valve member 4, which is provided with anexternally threaded upper end 4 engaging the internal threads of thebranch 2'. To the lower end of the member i is preferably attached avalve disk at which is adapted, when the. valve member is lowered, toseat upon a. seat 2 in the lower part of the chamber 2 and surroundingthe upper end of the open-- ing in the branch 2.

To the member 4 is connected a stem r, and to the upper end of this stemis connected a handle a of any suitable kind, by

which the valve can be operated. The valve is normally closed, asindicated in Fig. 4c; but is shown open in Fig. 3.

The branch 2 is connected to a drain pipe 5 which may extend through asuitable opening in the box and besecured in place by a nut 5. Metalwashers 5" and 5 may be placed on the pipe 5 inside and outside of thebox to make a close water-tight joint therewith. Pipe 5 also forms ameans for supporting the attachment in position within the box.

The lower end of the branch 2 is provided with a screen 6 which may beconveniently retained in position by perforated internally threadedscrew cap 6, engaging exterior threads on the branch 2 as shown.

To the branch 2 is connected the outlet end of a water-seal trap 7; thisend of the trap being externally threaded as at 7 to engage the internalthreads of the branch 2 The trap 7 is curved, and its outlet end 7 a isnormally disposed horizontally but its inlet end 7 is curved upwardlyand lies at right angles to the end 7, and the intermediate curvedportion of the trap 7 depends below the level of the end 7 The trap isprovided with an internal partition 7, the lower edge of which liesbelow the level of the lower part of the end 7, so that there will be awater seal maintained in the trap as indicated at w in Fig. 4. This sealwill prevent any air passing to or from the pipe 5 through the valvechamber from or to the overflow pipe 8 which is connected to the end 7 bof the trap.

The overflow pipe 8 may be of any desired length. It is externallythreaded at its lower end to engage the internal threads of the end 7"of the trap as shown, so as to form a close joint therewith. The upperend 8 of the overflow pipe is provided with a screen 9 which is retainedin position thereon by means of a perforated cap 9 internally threadedto engage external threads on the upper end of the overflow pipe, asshown in Fig. 4.

The pipe 5 is located at such a point along the floor of therefrigerating chamber that the valve 2 in the casting 2 will be at thelevel at which it is desired to always maintain an amount of cold wateror brine in the box; this level being indicated by the dotted line g yin Figs. 1 and 2. The overflow pipe 8 is of such length that its upperend will be at the level beyond which it is not desired to have waterrise in the box at any time. this level being indicated by the dottedline zz, Figs. 1 and 2. I

lVhen the valve is closed, as indicated in Fig. 4, the water level inthe box will be maintained at the line z-.a, Figs. 1 and 2. In suchrefrigerators the low temperature s commonly provided by a mixture ofice and salt, and the resultant brine is of low temperature. and thecoldest brine always settles to the bottom of the chamber, below theline y-y. This brine is as cold or-colder than the ice itself, and Ihave found that it is very advantageous to always retain in the ice boxan amount of cold brine, below the level y, and this amount may be from8 to 12 inches in depth, according to the size of the box. The valve 4is normally closed, as in Fig. 4;, and as the ice melts the water levelgradually rises; but will overflow before it overflows the cans.

lVhen it is desired to re-ice the box, the valve is opened, as indicatedin Fig. 3, whereupon all water above the level z 3 will escape from thechamber through the branch 2 into the valve chamber 2 and thence todrain pipe 5. This will withdraw the warmer top water, but the coldestportion of the brine is always maintained in the box below the level yof the valve, and the box can then be refilled with ice. I have found inpractice that the retention of a practically constant substantial amountof coldest brine in the chamber effects a very great saving in theamount of'ice required to maintain low temperature in the refrig cratingchamber; and instead of the whole chamber having to be filled with iceat each icing, only the part of the chamber above the line '8 has to befilled with ice; and the brine be ow the line g is generally of a temperature as low or lower than that of the ice, obviously no ice iswasted in cooling up the space filled by the brine below the part 11 Iclaim:

1. In apparatus of the character specified, a refrigerating chamber;means for maintaining a constant amount of brine in the lower portion ofsaid chamber; means to regulate the level of fluid above said constantlymaintained amount of brine; means whereby the body of fluid above theconstant amount of brine may be drawn off when it is desired to re-icethe apparatus; and means for preventing the passage of air to or fromthe chamber. o

2. In apparatus of the character specified, a refrigerating chamber; afluid outlet from said chamber located at such point as will retain aconstant amount of brine in the chamber; an overflow connected with saidchamber to regulate the level of fluid in the box above the constantamount of brine; means whereby the body of fluid above the constantamount of brine may be drawn off when it is desired to re-ice theapparatus; and means for preventing the passage of air through theoverflow.

3. In apparatus of the'character specified, a box having a refrigeratingchamber; means for maintaining a constant amount of brine in thelowerportion of said chamber: an overflow pipe extending above the levelof the first means to regulate the level of fluid above said constantamount of brine; a valve whereby the body of water above the constantamount of brine may be drawn off when it is desired to re-ice theapparatus; and means for preventing the passage of air through theoverflow pipe.

4;. In apparatus of the character specified, a refrigerating chamber; adrain pipe connected with said chamber at such a point above the bottomthereof as will insure the retention of a constant amount of cold brinein the chamber; an outlet valve connected with the drain pipe; anoverflow pipe connected with the valve and adapted to regulate the levelof the fluid in the box above the constant amount of brine, and meansfor preventing the passage of air through said overflow pipe.

5. In apparatus of the character specified, a refrigerating chamber; adrain pipe connected with said chamber at such a point as will retain aconstant amount of cold brine in the chamber; a valve connected withsaid pipe; a. trap connected with the drain pipe; and an overflow pipeconnected with said trap adapted to regulate the level of fluid in thebox above the constant amount of brine; said valve permitting the bodyof Water above the constant supply of brine to be drawn ofl when it isdesired to re-ice the box.

6. In apparatus. for the purpose specified, a valve casing, a valvetherein, a stern for operating said valve; a drain pipe connected withthe valve casing; an overflow pipe connected with the valve casing andcommunieating with the drain pipe through the valve casing; and meansfor preventing the passage of air through said overflow pipe.

7. In apparatus for the purpose specified, a valve casing, a valvetherein, a stem for operating said valve; a drain pipe connected withthe valve casing; a trap also connected with the valve casing andcommunicating with the drain pipe through the valve casing; and anoverflow pipe connected with the said trap.

8. In an apparatus of the character specified, a valve casing having avalve chamber; a valve seat in the lower part of the chamber; an inletbelow the seat; a hollow branch above the seat; said casing havinganother branch adapted to be connected with a drain pipe, and having asecond inlet opening in said chamber above the valve seat; a valvemember having a threaded portion engaging the hollow branch and adaptedto close the seat when the member is lowered; a water seal trapconnected with the second inlet opening in the valve casing; and anoverflow pipe connected with the trap.

9. In apparatus of the character specified, a valve casing having avalve chamber; a valve seat in the lower part of the chamber, a branchbelow the seat having an inlet opening; a second branch above the seat,a third branch adapted to be connected with a drain pipe, and a fourthbranch opening into said chamber above the valve seat; a valve memberhaving a threaded portion engaging the second branch and adapted toclose the seat when the member is lowered; a water seal trap having oneend connected with the fourth branch; an overflow pipe connected withthe other end of said trap; a valve guide connected with the casing; anda valve stem connected with said member and extending through saidguide.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

HARRISON H. WELLS.

